Apparatus and method for automatically providing information to a new computer

ABSTRACT

A system and method is disclosed for automatically providing information to a newly-manufactured computing device. During the manufacture of a new computing device at an assembly line, a camera integrated with the computing device is automatically activated as a barcode scanner. On the camera viewing a barcode that includes device-specific configuration information, the barcode is read by the computing device to read the device-specific configuration information for storage in a non-volatile memory of the device.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from and is a continuation ofpreviously filed U.S. application Ser. No. 13/273,181, filed Oct. 13,2011, which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/542,122, filed Sep. 30, 2011, the subjectmatter of both prior applications incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject technology relates generally to the manufacturing andtesting of computing devices.

BACKGROUND

During the manufacturing process, a new computer must be taught certaininformation about itself (for example, its serial number, memory, speed,operating system, hardware capabilities, and the like). Currently,providing the computer with this information includes manually scanningwith a barcode reader a barcode attached to the computer to retrieve aserial number, using that serial number to retrieve information specificto the computer, and then manually loading that information into thecomputer.

SUMMARY

The subject technology provides a system and computer-implemented methodfor automatically providing information to a newly-manufacturedcomputing device. According to one aspect, the system includesactivating an integrated camera associated with the computing device asa barcode scanner, waiting for a barcode to be viewed by the integratedcamera, and, on the integrated camera viewing a barcode that includesdevice-specific configuration information, reading the barcode to readthe device-specific configuration information, and storing thedevice-specific configuration information on a system memory of thecomputing device. In another aspect, the method may include connectingto a configuration system via a network connection, transmitting to theconfiguration system the serial number, receiving from the configurationsystem, secondary configuration information about the computing device,and, on receiving the secondary configuration information, automaticallystoring the secondary configuration information to the system memory.

It is understood that other configurations of the subject technologywill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, wherein various configurations of thesubject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. Aswill be realized, the subject technology is capable of other anddifferent configurations and its several details are capable ofmodification in various other respects, all without departing from thescope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detaileddescription are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description will be made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system, including an assembly line, forautomatically providing information to newly-manufactured computingdevices according to one aspect of the subject technology.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a computing device, including an integratedcamera, and a barcode for automatically providing information to anewly-manufactured computing device according to one aspect of thesubject technology.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for automatically providingconfiguration information to a newly-manufactured computing deviceaccording to one aspect of the subject technology.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for automaticallydownloading configuration information to a newly-manufactured computingdevice according to one aspect of the subject technology.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a machine or computer for automaticallyproviding information to a newly-manufactured computing device,including a processor and other internal components, according to oneaspect of the subject technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system, including an assembly line, forautomatically providing information to newly-manufactured computingdevices according to one aspect of the subject technology. A system 100may include an assembly line 101 configured to receive for configurationone or more computing devices 102, a configuration server 103, and aconfiguration storage 104 (for example, a database or file system).Assembly line 101 may include a sequential organization of technicians,tools or machines, and/or parts to facilitate the configuration of a oneor more devices 102. Configuration server 103 may be operably connectedto the one or more devices 102 at assembly line 101 using a wired orwireless network 105 (for example, a secure WAN, LAN, or the Internet).Each device 102 may be connected using an Ethernet cable to a local areanetwork (LAN) using a local router, or each device 102 may be configuredto include a wireless connection to a wireless router.

A computing device 102 compatible with assembly line 101 may include,for example, a notebook computer, tablet computer, personal digitalassistant (PDA), smart phone, or the like. Each computing device 102 mayinclude an integrated camera (for example, a camera built into a displayof the device). During the configuration of a device 102 at assemblyline 101, the camera of device 102 may be activated and presented with abarcode that includes a serial number associated with the device. Thecamera may be configured to automatically read the barcode to readand/or store the serial number, and then automatically transmit 106 theserial number to configuration server 103 using network 105. Aconfiguration server 103 may be configured to receive the serial numberscanned at assembly line 101 by the camera, and facilitate the downloadto the device of further device-specific configuration informationassociated with the serial number.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a computing device, including an integratedcamera, and a barcode for automatically providing information to anewly-manufactured computing device according to one aspect of thesubject technology. A computing device 201 may include one or moreinternal memory mediums 202 and an associated camera 203. Camera 203 mayinclude an integrated camera (for example, built into a display) or maybe a component separate from, or configurably mountable to, computingdevice 201. An internal memory medium 202 may include firmwareinstructions 204 that, when executed by a processor associated withcomputing device 201 (see, for example, FIG. 4), configure computingdevice 201 to initiate a boot up and to activate camera 203 as a barcodescanner. In one aspect, device 201 is configured to execute firmwareinstructions 204 when powered on for the first time.

When camera 203 is activated as a barcode scanner, a barcode 205 may bepositioned to be viewable by camera 203. For example, barcode 205 may beplaced in front of the camera by an assembly line technician, orautomatically by machinery at assembly line 101. Camera 203 mayautomatically read encoded information from barcode 205 and store theencoded information onto an internal system memory 206. System memory206 may be implemented as a secure area or partition on the sameinternal memory medium 202 that stores firmware instructions 204, or, inother aspects, implemented as a separate internal memory medium 202.

System memory 206 may be a write-once memory (for example, an EPROM,EEPROM, or other non-volatile memory), wherein, once the information isstored thereon, the information becomes read-only. For example, afterstoring the device-specific configuration information on system memory206, computing device 201 may be configured to set system memory 206 toa read-only state (for example, by applying a voltage to one or morespecific pins of an EPROM or EEPROM).

Barcode 205 may be encoded with information related to the computingdevice 201. For example, barcode 205 may include a serial number ofdevice 201, along with secondary configuration information related to,for example, memory, speed, operating system, hardware capabilities, andthe like. In this regard, barcode 205 may be a matrix 2D barcode havingthe serial number and secondary configuration information encodedthereon. On reading barcode 205, computing device 201 may receiveconfiguration information about itself.

In one aspect, barcode 204 may be encoded with limited information, suchas a serial number. On reading a serial number from barcode 205,computing device 201 may be configured to connect to configurationsystem 207 (for example, including configuration computer 103) toretrieve the previously described information. Firmware instructions204, when executed, may cause the processor to connect to configurationsystem 207, including storage 208 for storing configuration information(for example, configuration storage 104), by means of a connectionthrough a network (for example, network 105). Computing device 201 maytransmit to configuration system 207 the serial number read from barcode205 to receive the previously described secondary configurationinformation about the computing device. To this end, configurationsystem 207 and/or storage 208 may be configured to store the previouslydescribed secondary configuration information for one or more computingdevices 201, indexed by serial numbers. On configuration system 207receiving a serial number, configuration system 207 may perform a lookupof the secondary configuration information and then transmit thesecondary configuration information to computing device 201 for storageat system memory 206.

In another aspect, activating camera 203, reading barcode 205, storingthe serial number and/or secondary configuration information to systemmemory 206, and the like, may be the result of executing instructionsfrom a location different than internal memory medium 202. In oneexample, computing device 201 may include a memory medium 209 (forexample, a hard drive, removable flash drive, USB drive, or the like)for storing a factory boot image 210. Boot image 210 may not includestandard operating system features (for example, a browser), but,rather, may include a limited feature set for configuring and/or testingthe hardware systems of a computing device (for example, physical memoryaddresses and hardware functions, network capability, and the like).Boot image 210 may be responsible for, among other things, configuringdevice 201. Computing device 201 may be configured, on a power up, toaccess and load the previously described firmware instructions 204 frominternal memory medium 202 and to initiate a further boot up of thedevice by loading and executing a boot image 210. Boot image 210, whenexecuted, may then activate camera 203 and wait to read configurationinformation from a barcode 205.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for automatically providingconfiguration information to a newly-manufactured computing deviceaccording to one aspect of the subject technology. According to oneaspect, computing device (for example, computing device 101) may beconfigured with configuration instructions that, when executed on astart up of the computing device, automatically configure the device toload configuration information. In a first process 301, a boot-up of thecomputing device is initiated (for example, for the first time). In asecond process 302, a camera associated with the computing device isactivated as a barcode scanner. In some aspects, the camera may beintegrated into the display of the computing device. In a third process303, the camera remains idle and waits for a barcode to be positioned tobe viewable by the camera. On the camera viewing a barcode that includesdevice-specific configuration information, in a fourth process 304, thecamera reads the barcode to read the device-specific configurationinformation, and then, in a fifth process 305, the computing devicestores the device-specific configuration information in a system memory.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for automaticallydownloading configuration information to a newly-manufactured computingdevice according to one aspect of the subject technology. In someaspects, the device-specific configuration information includes a serialnumber. The instructions, when executed, may cause the computing deviceto, in a sixth process 401, connect to an configuration system through anetwork connection. In a seventh process 402, the computing device sendsthe serial number to the configuration system. In an eighth process 403,in response to receiving the serial number at the configuration system,secondary configuration information about the computing device is sentfrom the configuration system to the computing device. In a ninthprocess 404, the secondary configuration information is stored to thecomputing device.

Therefore, using the subject technology, a new computing device, in anassembly line, may be activated to load and execute initiationinstructions stored thereon to activate a camera associated with the newdevice as a barcode scanner. A barcode, including information related tothe new device, may be positioned to be viewable by the camera. On thecamera viewing the barcode, the information is read by the camera andstored on a system memory of the computing device. In some aspects, thedevice may connect to an configuration system to download secondaryconfiguration information based on the information related to thecomputing device, and then store the secondary configuration informationon a system memory of the computing device. In a further aspect, atechnician working in the assembly line may verify that the informationwas stored to the system memory.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a machine or computer for automaticallyproviding information to a newly-manufactured computing device,including a processor and other internal components, according to oneaspect of the subject technology. In some aspects, a computerized device500 (for example, computing device 102, configuration server 103, or thelike) includes several internal components such as a processor 501, asystem bus 502, read-only memory 503, system memory 504, networkinterface 505, I/O interface 506, and the like. In one aspect, processor501 may also be communication with a storage medium 507 (for example, ahard drive, database, or data cloud) via I/O interface 506. In someaspects, all of these elements of device 500 may be integrated into asingle device. In other aspects, these elements may be configured asseparate components.

Processor 501 may be configured to execute code or instructions toperform the operations and functionality described herein, managerequest flow and address mappings, and to perform calculations andgenerate commands. Processor 501 is configured to monitor and controlthe operation of the components in server 500. The processor may be ageneral-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD),a controller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or a combination of the foregoing. One or more sequences ofinstructions may be stored as firmware on a ROM within processor 501.Likewise, one or more sequences of instructions may be software storedand read from system memory 505, ROM 503, or received from a storagemedium 507 (for example, via I/O interface 506). ROM 503, system memory505, and storage medium 507 represent examples of machine or computerreadable media on which instructions/code may be executable by processor501. Machine or computer readable media may generally refer to anymedium or media used to provide instructions to processor 501, includingboth volatile media, such as dynamic memory used for system memory 504or for buffers within processor 501, and non-volatile media, such aselectronic media, optical media, and magnetic media.

In some aspects, processor 501 is configured to communicate with one ormore external devices (for example, via I/O interface 506). Processor501 is further configured to read data stored in system memory 504and/or storage medium 507 and to transfer the read data to the one ormore external devices in response to a request from the one or moreexternal devices. The read data may include one or more web pages and/orother software presentation to be rendered on the one or more externaldevices. The one or more external devices may include a computing systemsuch as a personal computer, a server, a workstation, a laptop computer,PDA, smart phone, and the like.

In some aspects, system memory 504 represents volatile memory used totemporarily store data and information used to manage device 500.According to one aspect of the subject technology, system memory 504 israndom access memory (RAM) such as double data rate (DDR) RAM. Othertypes of RAM also may be used to implement system memory 504. Memory 504may be implemented using a single RAM module or multiple RAM modules.While system memory 504 is depicted as being part of device 500, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that system memory 504 may be separatefrom device 500 without departing from the scope of the subjecttechnology. Alternatively, system memory 504 may be a non-volatilememory such as a magnetic disk, flash memory, peripheral SSD, and thelike.

I/O interface 506 may be configured to be coupled to one or moreexternal devices, to receive data from the one or more external devicesand to send data to the one or more external devices. I/O interface 506may include both electrical and physical connections for operablycoupling I/O interface 506 to processor 501, for example, via the bus502. I/O interface 506 is configured to communicate data, addresses, andcontrol signals between the internal components attached to bus 502 (forexample, processor 501) and one or more external devices (for example, ahard drive). I/O interface 506 may be configured to implement a standardinterface, such as Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS), Fiber Channel interface,PCI Express (PCIe), SATA, USB, and the like. I/O interface 506 may beconfigured to implement only one interface. Alternatively, I/O interface506 may be configured to implement multiple interfaces, which areindividually selectable using a configuration parameter selected by auser or programmed at the time of assembly. I/O interface 506 mayinclude one or more buffers for buffering transmissions between one ormore external devices and bus 502 and/or the internal devices operablyattached thereto.

Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrativeblocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms describedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardwareand software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements,components, methods, and algorithms have been described above generallyin terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varyingways for each particular application. Various components and blocks maybe arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, orpartitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope ofthe subject technology.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Basedupon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the stepsmay be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims presentelements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to belimited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. The previousdescription provides various examples of the subject technology, and thesubject technology is not limited to these examples. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in themasculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., herand its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used forconvenience only and do not limit the invention.

The term website, as used herein, may include any aspect of a website,including one or more web pages, one or more servers used to host orstore web related content, and the like. Accordingly, the term websitemay be used interchangeably with the terms web page and server. Thepredicate words “configured to”, “operable to”, and “programmed to” donot imply any particular tangible or intangible modification of asubject, but, rather, are intended to be used interchangeably. Forexample, a processor configured to monitor and control an operation or acomponent may also mean the processor being programmed to monitor andcontrol the operation or the processor being operable to monitor andcontrol the operation. Likewise, a processor configured to execute codecan be construed as a processor programmed to execute code or operableto execute code.

A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect isessential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to allconfigurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to anaspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations.An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspectmay refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an“embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to thesubject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurationsof the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment mayapply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment mayprovide one or more examples. A phrase such as an “embodiment” may referto one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a“configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential tothe subject technology or that such configuration applies to allconfigurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to aconfiguration may apply to all configurations, or one or moreconfigurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. Aphrase such as a “configuration” may refer to one or more configurationsand vice versa.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example orillustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousaspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expresslyincorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed bythe claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construedunder the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in thecase of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “stepfor.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or thelike is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended tobe inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” isinterpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for automaticallyproviding information to a plurality of new computing devices,comprising: in an assembly line comprising a plurality ofnewly-manufactured computing devices, activating a computing device onthe assembly line to load and execute initiation instructions stored onthe activated computing device, the initiation instructions activatingan integrated camera associated with the activated computing device as abarcode scanner; and positioning a barcode to be viewable by theintegrated camera, the barcode including device information related tothe activated computing device, wherein, on the integrated cameraviewing the barcode, the device information is read by the integratedcamera and stored on a system memory of the activated computing device.2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein, on theintegrated camera reading the device information, the activatedcomputing device connects to a configuration system to downloadconfiguration information about the activated computing device based onthe device information
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2,wherein the configuration information is stored on the system memory ofthe activated computing device.
 4. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 3, further comprising: verifying that the configurationinformation is stored on the system memory.
 5. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the initiation instructions are stored asfirmware on the activated computing device.
 6. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the initiation instructions are stored aspart of a factory boot image on a memory medium associated with theactivated computing device, and wherein activating the computing deviceon the assembly line comprises a power-up of the activated computerdevice.
 7. A computer-implemented method for automatically providinginformation to a computing device, comprising: activating an integratedcamera associated with the computing device as a barcode scanner;waiting for a barcode to be viewed by the integrated camera; on theintegrated camera viewing a barcode that includes device-specificconfiguration information, reading the barcode to read thedevice-specific configuration information, and storing thedevice-specific configuration information on a system memory of thecomputing device; and loading and executing initiation instructionsresponsible for the activating, reading, and storing steps from a memorymedium, wherein the initiation instructions are stored on the memorymedium as a factory boot image.
 8. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 7, wherein the device-specific configuration information includesa serial number, the method further comprising: connecting to anconfiguration system via a network connection; transmitting the serialnumber to the configuration system; receiving secondary configurationinformation about the computing device from the configuration system;and on receiving the secondary configuration information, automaticallystoring the secondary configuration information to the system memory. 9.The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein reading the barcodeincludes reading a matrix 2D barcode, and wherein the device-specificconfiguration information includes a serial number and secondaryconfiguration information about the computing device.
 10. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising: loading andexecuting initiation instructions responsible for the activating,reading, and storing steps from a memory medium.
 11. The computingdevice of claim 10, wherein the memory medium is a firmware device on asystem board of the computing device.
 12. The computing device of claim10, wherein the memory medium is a hard drive associated with thecomputing device.
 13. A newly-manufactured computing device, comprising:a processor; an integrated camera; a first memory containingconfiguration instructions configured to be accessed on a power-on ofthe computing device, wherein the configuration instructions areexecuted by the processor on a power-on of the computer device and causethe processor to: activate the integrated camera as a scanner; readencoded information positioned in front of the integrated camera, theencoded information including device information related to thecomputing device; initiate a transmission of the device information to aconfiguration system remote from the computing device; receiveconfiguration information about the computing device based on thetransmitted device information; and store the configuration informationabout the computing device to the computing device.
 14. Thenewly-manufactured computing device of claim 13, wherein theconfiguration instructions are stored on the first memory as a factorytest image.
 15. The newly-manufactured computing device of claim 14,wherein the first memory is a hard drive.
 16. The newly-manufacturedcomputing device of claim 14, wherein the transmission is initiated overa network connection with a configuration server at an assembly line,the newly-manufactured computing device being one of multiple devices inthe assembly line.
 17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein thedevice information includes a serial number of the newly-manufacturedcomputing device.
 18. The computing device of claim 14, furthercomprising a system memory, the configuration information being storedon the system memory, wherein the configuration instructions areimplemented as firmware stored on the first memory.
 19. The computingdevice of claim 18, wherein the system memory is implemented as anEPROM.
 20. A computer-implemented method, comprising: in an assemblyline comprising a plurality of computing devices, initiating a boot upof one or more of the computing devices on the assembly line to activaterespective integrated cameras associated with the one or more computingdevices; providing at each of the one or more computing devicesrespective encoded information that, when viewed by an activated cameraof a corresponding computing device, provides the correspondingcomputing device with device information about the correspondingcomputing device; and on a respective computing device receiving thedevice information, facilitating transmission of the device informationfrom the respective computing device to a configuration system,downloading from the configuration system to the respective computingdevice configuration information based on the transmitted deviceinformation, and storing the configuration information to a memory ofthe respective computing device.